The Story Of An Immigrant To Niagara And Third-Class Titanic Survivor – Told By A Granddaughter

By Donna Krekorian

Many stories have been told about the sinking of the Titanic.

Neshan Krekorian and other Titanic survivors were rescued on a lifeboat like this one, approaching the Carpathia on the morning hours of April 15, 1912.

Many versions of the story of our Grandfather, Neshan Krekorian, have been written.  Most are similar – the story of a third-class male passenger that managed to escape the sinking when so many others did not. For our family, the story is not so concise.  After 100 years, our family would like to put the rumours and innuendos depicting our ancestor as a “coward” or ‘stow away” to rest.  There is a much bigger picture – another layer that makes his ability to survive such a terrible disaster even more meaningful. It is how Neshan Krekorian clawed his way from tragedy to become the true Canadian immigrant success story. 

Neshan Krekorian’s ability to escape disaster was tested before his voyage on the Titanic. In the early 1900’s, Armenians were systematically being eradicated by the Turks. Our grandfather was prudent in his escape from his homeland as only a few short years later, over a million Armenians would become the victims of genocide. It was the fear of this murderous persecution that was the impetus to his fateful journey on the Titanic.

Neshan Krekorian - Titanic survivor settled in St. Catharines, Ontario

Along with about 15 other Armenians, Neshan walked for seven days to Trebizond on the Black Sea and sailed to Marseilles France.  There he purchased his ticket ( #2654) on the “Unsinkable “ Titanic, departing from Cherbourg France. Unbeknownst to him, he was jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Many will recall that the Titanic was billed as the greatest luxury liner of its time.  Those who purchased second and first class tickets would no doubt have agreed.  For our grandfather, and the countless other third class steerage passengers, the Titanic was a crowded human cargo ship – the last hurdle to endure before they reached what they hoped was the Promised Land.  A new beginning, a second chance at a better life…..or so they thought. They did not know that once the ship had hit the iceberg, orders were given to lock the escape passages from the third class area. 

 My grandfather and those fleeing with him had to use an axe to break the padlocks put in place to prevent them from escaping to potential safety and rescue on the higher decks where the lifeboats were stored. Once on deck, there was pandemonium.  Women and children were being pushed overboard, men were being shot for trying to escape in the lifeboats. 

Titanic prior to fateful maiden voyage

There were not enough lifeboats. That s a fact. Most were lowered without being filled to the 65 person capacity.  The last to be lowered was Lifeboat 10.  It was filled to less than half capacity, 29 passengers and one crew member, as it began to lower.  It was at this last minute, when my grandfather realized there was no intent for the crew to save any more women or children, that this was his last chance, so he literally took a leap of faith and jumped down several feet into the the lifeboat. 

As it turned out, it was a good thing he made it on to the boat, as he assisted in rowing the boat away from the sinking ship.  On that same lifeboat, also from third class was a mother and her two children ages, one and two months.  The youngest child, Millvina Dean, became the last remaining survivor of the RMS Titanic, passing away in 2009.  Perhaps her family escaped the locked steerage with my grandfather, perhaps his rowing played a part in their survival?

 After the rescue, the press was hungry to get the scoop.  Stories were exaggerated, Some even made up, including the tale of an Armenian who dressed in women’s clothing in order to get on a lifeboat. This was not the story of our grandfather, nor of any other Armenian survivor for that matter. The clothing Neshan was wearing when rescued was the only clothing he had, typical Armenian fashion at that time, loose fitting, low crotch, cotton pants, vest and perhaps covered or wrapped in a shawl.  Perhaps this middle-eastern type clothing could have been mistaken by Edwardian westerners as female attire, it certainly made for sensational headlines. 

Another fabrication depicted Neshan and another male second class Japanese passenger as hiding under the skirts of women and smoking cigarettes despite being asked to refrain.  This story is doubtful also, seeing as Neshan was the last passenger to board the lifeboat, and therefore all the passengers knew of his presence so there was no need to hide.  As for disregarding verbal requests made to him, it would be impossible for him to respond seeing as he spoke Armenian and did not speak or understand English.

Depiction of Titanic during its final minutes

The main problem that people had at that time that still occurs to this day is “Why did a third class male passenger escape the sinking ship when so many women and children did not?”. This question has always seemed ridiculous to us.  The rule was women and children first, NOT only. Neshan had already witnessed his fellow third class women and children being locked below for a certain death.  He had seen women and children thrown overboard and men shot.  To him it seemed as though the people who held his fate had no regard for the law of the sea or life itself ! 

The truth is that only 20 per cent of third class passengers survived, and shockingly, 50 per cent  of third class women and children did not survive. More first class males survived than third class children!!!  Seeing as these first class males were to be so refined, dignified and educated, the question of why they deserved a place on a lifeboat while children were left to die, might be better directed to their families.  Our family has questions too, “Why did they not supply enough lifeboats, why did they lower them with half capacity, why did they cancel the lifeboat drill that was to take place earlier that day and why did they decide that the 3rd class passengers should be locked below and left to drown like sewer rats?”.  The real cowardly behaviour that took place April 14 and 15,1912 was that of White Star Lines and Titanic’s Captain, not of Neshan Krekorian.

The truth is, Neshan’s survival was a miracle.  It was pure luck.  It was being in the right place at the right time.  It was his perseverance, determination and that innate fight or flight response he possessed. He was a survivor. After recuperating from double pneumonia and with only the clothes on his back and the $25 and bus ticket he received as compensation for his ordeal, he was able to start a life in Canada.  He found an Armenian community in Brantford, Ontario and soon made his way to St. Catharines, Ontario, to work in factories like McKinnon and later GM. He worked hard in the factory and saved in order to help bring his two brothers to Canada.

A replica of a third-class Titanic mug. Courtesy of Linda McKellar

After working and saving more, he married his wife Persape Vartanian and bought a house on Carlton Street where they had three children.  Our father George is the middle child, the only son.  To us, our grandfather’s success was in raising his son with the same perseverance and determination that he had.  He encouraged our father to work hard, to learn and to excel. With that guidance, in 1952, our father graduated from the University of Toronto as a doctor of Anaesthesiology.  He returned to his community of St. Catharines, where he practiced for over 40 years at both the Hotel Dieu Hospital and the General Hospital.

For those that still question why our grandfather survived when so many did not, I would suggest it was in order to fulfill a greater purpose.  He was able to give back, to say thank you for the life he was given, and for being spared the same fate as so many helpless others.  His tragedy has lead to success: an immigrant to Canada whose son became a doctor, helping to save lives and enhance healthcare in his community. This is the true Canadian immigrant success story.  For us our grandfather’s story doesn’t end with him being rescued by the Carpathia.  In fact his story will never really end, as it continues on in his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who follow after him.  

Donna Krekorian is the granddaughter of Neshan Krekorian, a Titanic survivor, St. Catharines, Ontario resident and father of Dr. George Kerorian.)

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